X Factor 2012: Sinitta says Simon Cowell is “desperate” to return to UK show and to boot Gary Barlow off judges’ panel!

Fans of The X Factor will know that Simon Cowell’s former lover Sinitta is still in regular contact with him, and often acts as his spokeswoman…

And in today’s Sunday People, Sinitta has claimed that Simon is “desperate” to return to the UK version of the show, not least so that he can personally kick Gary Barlow off the judging panel!

Sinitta began the interview by saying that Simon had been “gutted” when Ella Henderson left last weekend, and that he’s “bewildered” at the popularity of Christopher Maloney.

She said, “This has been the worst series ever and Simon wants to come back.

“He has so much affection for the UK show, he is the boss and he wants to be back on UK TV…

“I think there have been moments when Simon has thought, ‘Oh My God, what is going on?’

“He is a control freak. He has his ways and his methods to his madness. Only he will think something and only he will understand it and he is able to see what is missing.

“But it’s hard to steer a ship from the other side of the world.

“You can’t teach someone what to think or what to do. I can feel his frustration. He misses the banter from the British fans, he misses the set-up and the team.

“In my view it has been the worst show yet in terms of watchability. There has been some great talent, some great singers but there is something missing.

“Simon says X Factor is his first baby. He worries about the show and there is a lot for him to worry about at the moment…

“The wrong people are going. He finds it frustrating. He doesn’t want the whole thing to fall apart.”

Simon has apparently given thought to travelling between Britain and America to appear on both shows next year, but Sinitta says he fears that doing so would mean sacrificing being a good mentor to the contestants.

She said, “That isn’t something he likes the idea of doing but I’m his friend and I want to find solutions for him.

“He is still the boss and he still sees the cuts and is up until all hours of the morning listening to what is going on.

“He doesn’t agree with some of the song choices or the music production choices but he has tried to give them a chance.”

Next, of the prospect of Chris Maloney wining the show, Sinitta said, “Simon is going to have to be very creative if Christopher wins.

“We worry that he will be like Michelle McManus – everyone voted for her to win Pop Idol because people liked her personality but when the record came out, nobody bought it.”

She added, “Simon enjoys Rylan [Clark] but he doesn’t know what to do with him – maybe a bit of Gangnam style.”

Lynn is an editor and writer here at Unreality TV and is a trained psychotherapist and the author of two books. She's addicted to soaps, period drama and reality TV shows such as X Factor, Big Brother, BGT and I'm A Celeb.